The Rocker Skating Podcast

Where in the world is Jackie Wong, you ask? Yes! He is in Japan for perhaps the most competitive National Championship in the world. And while he's there, Michelle joined in to preview the event with Olympic Team spots on the line.

Part 2 of our final event recap of the season wraps up Worlds with Women, Pairs, and Men — and there was a lot to close out the year.Jackie and Michelle break down Kaori’s fourth world title and what it meant to see her finish the season with that skate after everything this Olympic year asked of her. In the Men’s event, they get into Ilia’s bounce-back Worlds after Milan and Yuma delivering the kind of redemption performance fans were hoping to see.They also talk through the Pairs event and what it meant to see Germany back on top.Plus, don't forget to nominate your picks for Performance of the Season!

The final recap of the season is here, and Part 1 dives straight into Ice Dance.Jackie and Michelle break down the podium — what it means for Zingas & Kolesnik, the U.S. breakout team, and why Fournier Beaudry & Cizeron continue to dominate. They unpack the Lewis & Gibson scoring drama, including that “straight arm” deduction that cost them big, and highlight other standouts — including the viral moment of the night: Smart & Dieck skating their Dune Pt. 2 free dance for the last time, and more.Don't forget to nominate your Performance of the Season, NOW!

Jackie and Michele are back to preview the Men’s and Ice Dance events as we head into this very unpredictable post-Olympic Worlds. The fields are set (mostly…), but history says anything can still happen—and honestly, that’s part of the fun. Who are YOUR podium picks?

Jackie and Michelle are back to break down the Pairs and Women at this year’s post-Olympic Worlds. Who’s skating? Who’s out? And what wild moments are in store? One thing’s for sure—whatever unfolds, it’ll be unforgettable, as Jackie’s… very unique memories of past post-Olympic Worlds prove. Pairs and women up first—let’s dive in!

Canadian pair champions Lia Pereira / Trennt Michaud round out our week of interviews before we head to the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships. They join Jackie Wong to reflect on their past four seasons, from coming in sixth at Worlds in their very first season together to having some dream Olympic performances in Milan.

Next up on our pre-World Championships interview extravaganza are 2022 Four Continents champions Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, who join Jackie Wong ahead of their third appearance at Worlds in Prague.We learn so much about their approach to skating and choreography, including the narrative of their free dance this season and how their programs and elements have evolved as the season has gone on. And it turns out, Caroline is quite adept at the puns.

It's the week before the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships, and not surprisingly, the withdrawals are still rolling in. Jackie is here to talk about who has opted out of Worlds and what the implications are, especially for qualifying Worlds spots for next season.

On the heels of their Olympic bronze and on their way to 13th World Figure Skating Championships together, Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier join Jackie Wong to reflect on their season.They talk about their third Olympics experience, having a camera crew document their past year for Netflix's Glitter and Gold, and why they wanted to finish their season at Worlds.

Fresh off their top 10 finish at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Spanish ice dancers Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck join Jackie Wong on The Rocker Skating Podcast to reflect on their Olympic experience, how they teamed up even though Olivia Smart was about to go on a British reality skating show, and how early disappointments as a team fueled them to become stronger and more innovative than ever.

“People think this was a game. This is serious.” - James Hernandez“This is life” - Anthony PonomarenkoDid you know that pin trading is its own alternative sport within the Olympics? We have three of figure skating's premiere pin connoisseurs - Madeline Schizas (Canada), James Hernandez (Great Britain), and Anthony Ponomarenko (United States). They may be from different countries, but they all had pin trading on their agendas in Milano Cortina

It's been a while, but Jackie and Michelle are back with a short News of the Week podcast to fill you in on, specifically, who's IN for the upcoming World Championships and who is OUT (...so far).

Jackie and Michelle recap all the action from the 2026 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, breaking down the standout skates and biggest storylines from the next generation of stars.They dive into Rio Nakata’s powerful, dominant performance to win the junior men’s title, Mao Shimada’s historic fourth straight Junior World title — her final junior appearance before moving to the senior circuit — Ava Kemp & Yohnatan Elizarov bringing their senior-level experience to capture the pairs crown, and Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin impressing in ice dance as they cap off an incredible season with the junior world title.

Whether you just fell in love with skating at the Olympics or you’ve been following the junior ranks for years, Jackie and Michelle are here to get you ready for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships.In this episode of The Rocker Skating Podcast, they break down what makes Junior Worlds so special, why it’s the perfect next stop for new fans fresh off the Olympic high, and which skaters longtime viewers have been watching rise through the ranks.

2026 Four Continents Champion Yuna Aoki joins Jackie Wong on The Rocker Skating Podcast to reflect on her 2025–26 season — from a slow start to peaking at exactly the right moment to capture gold at the ISU Four Continents Championships.They talk about finding her stride late in the season, where her artistic inspiration comes from, and what shifted mentally and technically as she built toward that winning performance. Yuna also shares what it was like collaborating with choreographers Misha Ge and Alex Johnson, and what’s next after this season comes to a close.

Part 2 of the Milan Olympic recap is here, and this time the focus is on pairs and women — two events that delivered exactly the kind of drama, redemption arcs, technical flexes, and edge-of-your-seat free skates skating fans live for.Jackie and Michelle break down the biggest moments in both competitions: the lifts that made everyone nervous, the throws that paid off (and the ones that didn’t), the programs that built momentum all week, and the skates that completely shifted the podium conversation. They get into strategy, packaging, PCS debates, and what it actually felt like inside the arena when everything was unfolding in real time.To wrap it up, Jackie and Michelle each name their favorite programs of the entire Olympics — the skates that demand an immediate rewatch and will be referenced for the next four years.

Jackie and Michelle are officially home from Milan — and yes, Michelle is back live on the mic. It’s time to start unpacking the Olympics… and there is absolutely no way this fits into one episode.This is Part 1 of our full Milan recap: the programs we can’t stop thinking about, the podium moments, the judging chaos, the practices, the atmosphere in the arena — and yes, the pins. So many pins.We’re breaking down what it felt like on the ground, what hit differently in person, and what we’re still debating now that the adrenaline has worn off (sort of).

Jackie is back one final time from Milano to recap the final event of the Games — and these women did not disappoint.He breaks down a thrilling Olympic final, including Alysa Liu’s improbable gold-medal performance, Kaori Sakamoto’s push for silver, and Ami Nakai’s standout bronze, as well as skate after skate from women who crafted their own Olympic moment one triple jump at a time.

Jackie recaps all the drama and history from the Pairs event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He breaks down how Miura and Kihara delivered one of the most memorable free skates of the Games — storming from fifth after the short program to claim Olympic gold and make history for Japan, walks through Metelkina and Berulava’s amazing silver medal performance — another milestone, as it became Georgia’s first Winter Olympic medal — and how Hase and Volodin fought their way onto the podium for bronze. Jackie also looks at how hometown favorites Conti and Macii skated in front of the Italian crowd, how the Americans Chan and Howe and Kam and O’Shea fared in the final standings, and Stellato’s inspiring return to the Olympic stage after her training setback. It’s all the results, reactions, and emotion from the pairs competition — plus what these performances mean for the sport going forward.

The women are ready to take center ice in Milan, and Jackie and Michelle break down everything you need to know heading into the Olympic event. From defending world powerhouse Kaori Sakamoto and Japan’s deep lineup with Ami Nakai and Mone Chiba, to Team USA contenders Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito, plus home-ice hopes for Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann and technical wildcard Adelia Petrosian — the field is stacked.Who’s peaking at the right time? Who could surprise? And where might chaos strike?

Jackie is back on the mic immediately following the shocking finale of the Olympic men’s event in Milan, trying to process what we all just watched. From an unexpected podium shake-up led by Mikhail Shaidorov winning GOLD, with Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato joining him on the podium, to heavy favorite Ilia Malinin falling all the way to eighth after leading the short program, it was case of classic Olympic-Level-Menning — brilliance, mistakes, and total unpredictability all in one event.

Jackie and Michelle are back with a full preview of the Olympic Pairs event on Rocker Skating Podcast, breaking down the storylines to know before the teams hit the ice in Milano-Cortina.They look at gold-medal favorites Miura and Kihara, whether Metelkina and Berulava can push into the title conversation, and how Hase and Volodin — along with home-crowd favorites Conti and Macii — could shake up the podium picture.Plus, the dramatic late twist for Canada as Deanna Stellato-Dudek is cleared to compete after a training accident threatened to derail their Games, and a look at whether Americans Kam and O’Shea can carry their late-season momentum onto the Olympic stage.

Jackie Wong is back fresh off the Free Dance recap the Ice Dance event at the Milan Games, where the final standings left many fans — and even fellow skaters — puzzled. France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron claimed gold ahead of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, with Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier taking bronze (and notching the performance of the night. Cue the tears!). Jackie breaks down how the event unfolded, the scoring conversations coming out of the competition, and notable performances throughout the field — including strong home-ice skates from Guignard/Fabbri, a breakthrough showing from Zingas/Kolesnik, fan-favorite moments from Smart/Dieck, and Fear/Gibson falling out of medal contention in a dramatic free dance.

The first figure skating medals of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics have been won, and yes, it came down to the very last skater. Jackie's back with the breakdown of all three days of competition, including Kam/O'Shea's heroics in the pairs event, Ilia Malinin's surprise 2nd place finish in the short program, and Amber Glenn's debut on Olympic ice.

It’s almost time for the men to take center ice in Milan — and you know what that means: maximum chaos potential. Jackie and Michelle dig into the contenders they keep coming back to — Ilia Malinin, Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, and the men who might mix things up. Who will hold it together when Olympic pressure hits? … and will there be more positive or negative Menning?

Jackie and Michelle sit down before heading to Milan to make their Olympic Ice Dance predictions, breaking down how they see the podium battle shaping up once competition begins.They get into how the medal fight could play out between Americans Madison Chock & Evan Bates, France’s Laurence Fournier-Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron, Canadian contenders Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, how team GB's Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson could shake up the standings, and where hometown favorites Charlène Guignard & Marco Fabbri might land skating in front of an Italian crowd.From politicking and momentum to levels, GOE, and nerves on the Olympic stage, they walk through what they think will actually make the difference when the medals are on the line — and which teams are best positioned to deliver when it counts most.

Jackie Wong checks in from Milan with a full preview of the Olympic Team Event, walking through how the whole thing actually works before skating even starts. He talks through how countries decide who skates each segment, when we’ll learn the short program and rhythm dance lineups, and why those decisions matter way beyond just the team medal.He also gets into how the U.S. and Japan could put themselves in position to fight for gold, what strategy choices federations have to make between chasing team points and protecting skaters for their individual events, and which disciplines could end up swinging the standings.Basically, if you’re already debating lineup strategy or just want to be fully prepped before the first team event skater hits the ice, Jackie walks through everything you need to know before competition begins.

Jackie Wong checks in from Milan with a packed news week as the Games draw closer. He gets into the latest developments around Deanna Stellato-Dudek, checks in on where things stand for Italian home favorites Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii, and runs through the skating names set to lead their countries into the Opening Ceremony as flag bearers.Plus, Jackie breaks down the unexpectedly messy Minions music rights saga involving Tommy Guarino Sabaté, and why music clearance has suddenly become one of the most talked-about off-ice issues of the week.

Beloved commentator Mark Hanretty joins Jackie Wong on The Rocker Skating Podcast to break down the Grand Prix season, share how he approaches calling the action, and preview what he’s most excited to see when figure skating kicks off at the Milano Cortina Olympics later this week.They also dig into how Ice Dance has evolved in recent years, what changes have made the discipline stronger, and how the sport can keep adapting moving forward — plus a fun shoutout to podcast favorite Josefin Taljegård as one of the sports most engaging performers.

Chief Skate Nerd Jackie Wong chats with legendary Olympian, choreographer, and broadcaster Sandra Bezic ahead of the Milano Cortina Games. They break down what it really takes to craft modern pair skating programs, how creativity fits in the era of IJS, and tips for making the most of an Olympic experience.

This week's episode includes news about Olympic flag bearers like Olivia Smart, retirement news including Tomoki Hiwatashi, and even some thoughts on Netflix-style Figure Skating dramas. Are we in or out?

Jackie and Michelle are back to break down everything that went down at the 2026 Four Continents Championships — the medals, the moments, and the performances that might end up mattering way more than we realize heading into an Olympic season.In the men’s event, Japan’s Kao Miura came through when it counted, taking the title after a high-stakes showdown with Junhwan Cha, who delivered one of the most compelling performances of his season. It was a reminder that the Olympic podium conversation is very far from settled.Pairs brought one of the biggest stories of the week, with Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov climbing from third after the short program to win gold. Their momentum was impossible to ignore, while Wenjing Sui and Han Cong claimed silver in spite of obvious injuries that have their Olympic chances in question.In ice dance, history was made as the Americans swept the podium. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik led the charge with a confident, statement-making win, followed by Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, with Oona Brown and Gage Brown rounding out the sweep in bronze.It's the last of the ISU Championships before Milano-Cortina 2026 and the stakes just keep getting higher!

Jackie and Michelle are back to break down all the action at Four Continents 2026.In Pairs, Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi are looking to make a statement, while Wenjing Sui and Cong Han bring the experience, and Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov are ready to skate like it’s their own little Olympic moment.The Men’s field is full of chaos and excitement — from Kao Miura’s consistency to Junhwan Cha’s daring jumps, with Mikhail Shaidorov and Tomoki Hiwatashi all looking for redemption.On the Women’s side, Mone Chiba and Ami Nakai lead a deep, talented field that includes Jia Shin, Bradie Tennell, Sarah Everhardt, and the exciting return of Gabby Daleman, with plenty of dark horses ready to surprise.And in Ice Dance, the Americans are battling it out — Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, and Oona Brown and Gage Brown are all in the mix, while Fabbri and Ayer could shake things up as a wildcard.They share all their hot takes on who’s likely to podium, who could have a breakout performance, and what this competition could mean for momentum heading into the Winter Olympics.

Even in the momentary lull between Nationals season and ISU Championships season, there was plenty of news! Jackie and Michelle get you up to speed.

Jackie and Michelle are back for part 2 of the Europeans recap, this time breaking down the competition for the Women and the Dance.

In another two-parter, Jackie and Michelle recap the European Championship results in Sheffield over the weekend, starting with the Pairs and the Men.

There's no rest for the weary in ISU Championship season! Next up, it's Europeans. And Jackie has the scoop on what to watch, who to pick for an upset, and where the biggest drama might be!

Even in the midst of U.S. and Canadian championships week, Jackie and Michelle are on top of the news.

It's part two of the marathon U.S. Championships recap, this time focusing on the Dance and the Men. So much great skating, so many memorable moments, and so much emotion for everyone.

And just like that, Nationals week is over. Olympic teams have been named. And Jackie and Michelle are back to talk all about it in part 1 of the U.S. Championships recap show.

Before the dancers and the men take the competitive ice in St. Louis, get the scoop from Jackie and Michelle, complete with program updates and predictions. Plus, revisit our interview with Jason Brown from December where he talks about his decision to try to make one more Olympic team.

Jackie and Michelle are on-location in St. Louis for the U.S. Championships! The Women and Pairs kick off the Senior event, and this is the preview to get you ready to watch. Don't miss the special interview with fan-favorite Sonja Hilmer and Jackie and Michelle's Olympic Team predictions!

The first week of the year was not without its share of big news. And yes, one bit of news did involve a cat! Jackie and Michelle get you up to speed in this edition of News of the Week.

Another week, another set of National Championship wins and Olympic Team decisions! First up, Jackie and Michelle tackle Korea and Canada (from their hotel rooms in St Louis for the upcoming U.S. Championships!).

It's the last full week of 2025, and (no surprise) there was news everywhere! Jackie and Michelle have gathered it all for you in the final News of the Week this year.

Heated Rivalry taking your feed by storm? Ours, too. So it only made sense for Jackie and Michelle to get together for another Very Special Episode to talk about it!

It's a special holiday-week episode of the Rocker Skating Podcast, featuring a one-on-one with Jason Brown.

There was Japan Nationals, and so many other things! Jackie and Michelle have all the latest in injury updates, citizenship news, and national championship season -- this time, it's Italy and France.

With Jackie live in attendance, Japan Nationals brought the magic. (And the drama.) And he and Michelle are back to break it all down - from withdraws, to retirements, to surprising comebacks and more.And yes, Olympic teams were named, too.

National Championship season continues this week and Jackie and Michelle are breaking down what to watch for in France and Italy over the weekend. With Olympic and World team spots on the line, what surprises might be in store?